Men's Basketball Headline

Thursday February 20, 2014Gators in the NBA

Representing
the Gators in the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend, Joakim Noah earned a roster spot
for the East and Bradley Beal just barely missed winning the three-point
contest crown. Tonight, Chandler Parsons and the Rockets will square off
against David Lee and Marreese Speights of Golden State.

Bradley
Beal, Washington Wizards

Last
week Beal was a major player in the 2014 NBA All-Star three-point contest,
putting up 21 points to win the East bracket and face San Antonio’s Marco
Belinelli for the crown. Beal shot lights-out to tie Belinelli and force a tiebreaker,
but came up short after Belinelli made six straight shots and beat out Beal. In
a win over the Hawks last night, Beal posted 19 points with five rebounds and
six assists and is now averaging 17.0 ppg. The Wizards will play New Orleans on
Saturday at 7 p.m.

Matt
Bonner, San Antonio Spurs

Bonner
played 19 minutes against the Celtics last Wednesday, adding seven points and
grabbing four boards in the win, 104-92. Bonner saw limited action last night,
hitting just one shot and getting one rebound. The Spurs are on a three game
win streak after defeating Portland last night, 111-109, and will face the Suns
on Saturday at 9 p.m.

Corey
Brewer, Minnesota Timberwolves

Brewer
posted 22 points last Wednesday in a win against Denver, going 9-of-14 from the
floor two rebounds and five steals. Brewer scored 12 last night as the
Timberwolves went on to defeat the Pacers, 104-91, as he is now averaging 11.6
ppg. Minnesota will take on the Jazz Saturday at 9 p.m.

Nick
Calathes, Memphis Grizzles

Calathes
has posted double-figures in seven out of the last eight contests for the
Grizzlies, hitting 11 with five assists last night vs. the Knicks and adding 12
points and six assists last week when Memphis defeated Orlando, 86-81. Calathes
is now averaging 5.2 ppg and 2.7apg. The Grizzlies match-up with the Bobcats on
Saturday at 7 p.m.

Udonis
Haslem, Miami Heat

Haslem
has not seen any action in the month of February. The Heat have won six of
their last seven as they will battle the Bulls on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Al
Horford, Atlanta Hawks

Horford
suffered a season-ending injury on Dec. 28 but remarkably still leads the Hawks
in points, rebounds and blocks. The Hawks have lost seven-straight contest and
are 9-15 since the loss of Horford as they play Detroit Friday at 7:30 p.m.

David
Lee, Golden State Warriors

Lee
posted his 28th double-double of the season, fueling the Warriors to victory
over the Kings last night, 101-92. Lee knocked down 23 points, hitting 10-of-20
from the field while also pulling down 11 boards with two assists, two blocks
and a steal. He is the Warriors’ second-leading scorer, averaging 18.9 ppg.

Mike
Miller, Memphis Grizzlies

Tallying
a season-best 19 points on Tuesday night, Miller aided the Grizzlies in
defeating the Knicks, 98-93. Miller was 7-for-11 from the floor, including
5-of-7 from beyond the arc. He is averaging 6.5 ppg and 2.7 rpg.

Erik
Murphy, Chicago Bulls

Murphy hasn’t
seen playing time since he last logged five minutes on Feb. 3 against
Sacramento. The Bulls have won four straight and take on the Nuggets Friday at
8 p.m.

Joakim
Noah, Chicago Bulls

The only
former Gator to make a lineup spot on the 2014 NBA All-Star roster, Noah
contributed eight points, five rebounds and five assists as the East went on to
defeat the West, 163-155. Noah did not post double-figures for the Bulls last
night, but did have a career-best 13 assists as Chicago edged Toronto, 94-92.
Noah continues to average a double-double with 11.8 ppg and 11.4 rpg.

Chandler
Parsons, Houston Rockets

Parsons
has put up double-figures in the last three contests for the Rockets, dropping
18 last night on 8-of-14 shooting in a win over the Lakers, 134-108. Parsons
also threw down a dunk last night that made ESPN highlights. He is averaging
17.1 ppg and 5.6 rpg. The Rockets and the Warriors will have a showdown tonight
at 10:30 p.m.

Marreese
Speights, Golden State Warriors

Since
his career-high outing last week against Philadelphia, Speights has seen less
minutes and contributed just two and three points over the last two games. He
is averaging 6.0 ppg and 3.5 rpg as he will look to take the hardwood tonight
against Houston.